Ndaba Mandela

Ndaba Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s grandson, is the co-founder and chairman of the Africa Rising Foundation. He inspires audiences with his late grandfather’s message of reconciliation, healing and justice for all and speaks passionately about Africa, its people, and its future.

As Senior Human Rights Fellow at Kean this year, Mandela will spend a week working with students and stakeholders and lead Kean’s Human Rights Travelearn during spring break.

Nelson Mandela had a “long walk to freedom,” yet his footprints still remain. Following in the footsteps of his beloved and iconic grandfather, Ndaba Mandela has taken the torch – and ran with it. Today, Nelson Mandela’s legacy lives on as Ndaba continues to keep its beacon of hope bright, fueling its fiery message that one person can make a difference.

Ndaba is currently the co-founder and chairman of the Mandela Institute for Humanity, where he lifts up the next generation of African leaders and fights for the end of HIV/AIDS. He was recently named one of the “28 Men of Change” by BET and is featured in their International Emmy-nominated docu-series The Mandela Project, which centers on the legacy of Nelson Mandela and debuted on BET’s YouTube channel on July 18th, 2023. His recent book, Going to the Mountain: Life Lessons from My Grandfather, Nelson Mandela, is the first-ever to tell Nelson Mandela’s life through the eyes of the grandson who was raised by him, chronicling Ndaba’s life living with, and learning from, one of the greatest leaders and humanitarians the world has ever known.